Own It! from Women Lead Change

Tiffany O’Donnell talks to Sara Castillo & Katie Castillo-Wilson who are the founders of TapOnIt- a leader in text message marketing. Their proprietary SaaS (software as a service) Text Marketing Platform is used across the country by businesses of all sizes to build, grow, retain, engage, and even monetize databases of users that have opted-in to receive content from them via text. Whether the platform is used for marketing, sales, internal operations, or customer service, TapOnIt's best-in-class solution helps its clients reach their goals. In January 2018, Gannett, a leader in local media, invested $2M in TapOnIt to accelerate its growth. The team operates out of its office in Davenport, Iowa.On today's episode, Sara and Katie talk about lessons that they have learned and what it's like to start a tech business in Iowa.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O’Donnell talks to Dr. Kit Evans-Ford who is passionate about nonviolence, God, and serving others. She has been a trainer and activist for 14 years working relentlessly in the areas of nonviolence education and assisting people in healing from violence and abuse. Dr. Kit is a Teach for America and United States Peace Corps Alumni. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at St. Ambrose University and is also the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope in Davenport, Iowa. Argrow’s House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area. Argrow’s House is also a successful social enterprise where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are.On today's episode, Dr. Kit Evans-Ford talks about her journey and discusses how her work inspires her life and how her life inspires her work.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Robin Boudreau who is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of No Foot Too Small, a local nonprofit, for-purpose organization inspired by the loss of her son Beau in 2013. In 2019, as the organization continued the trajectory of significant local and national growth, Robin resigned from her career in medical sales and leadership after nearly two decades. Called to serve and connect with others from an early age, Robin holds a degree in Family Science; coursework that has proven instrumental in her mission to support and uplift families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Robin is also the wife of Dr. Ryan Boudreau, an Associate Professor, and proud mother to her earthly children, Bella and Benjamin.On today's episode, Robin talks about her journey to starting No Foot Too Small, the important work that they are doing and gives her advice to other women who are considering a career shift.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Erica Cole, the Founder & CEO of No Limbits, a startup adaptive apparel company with the mission of increasing comfort, confidence, and independence in those who struggle with clothing due to a disability. Erica lost her leg in a car accident in 2018 and started No Limbits out of a personal need for adaptive apparel. No Limbits recently closed a $1.4M Seed Round after appearing on Shark Tank with investors Mark Cuban and Emma Grede. No Limbits has products for a wide range of disabilities including a wheelchair pant, limited dexterity collection, and their recently launched sensory friendly collection.On today's episode, Erica talks about her journey to becoming a founder, the science behind creating adaptive clothing and how she has stayed positive and inspired through it all. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Women Lead Change has a lot of events coming up which means registration deadlines are quickly approaching! On today's episode, Mackenzy Caligiuri will be giving you all a preview of whats to come this fall at Women Lead Change.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Nia Wilder, an artist with Purpose. She uses her gift of film, photography and music to produce purpose driven art. When she’s not creating, you can find her at Spark Lot. A retail store created to provide small local businesses with a physical location and store front for their products and services. Recently, she’s been shifted in another direction to serve her community as Councilwoman of Ward 3 in Waterloo. Overall, Nia’s goal is to walk in Purpose, on Purpose.On today's episode, Nia talks about the importance of mentorship, her journey into local government and how everything really does fall into place. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Tricia Rivas, owner of Trixie’s Salon & Spa, founder of the Dream Catchers Foundation, and Customer Relations Coordinator with the Small Business Development Center. Tricia has a fierce passion for counseling small businesses and non-profits, and connecting people in communities for the better good. She spends her free time with family and friends traveling, camping, going on road trips to small towns in Iowa, shopping local boutiques and anything that includes food and good whiskey. On today's episode, Tricia talks about the importance of believing in yourself, where real beauty comes from and tells us some of her favorite stories along the way. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Mackenzy Caligiuri talks to host and CEO, Tiffany O’Donnell and the rest of the Women Lead Change team. There are 8 of us in 3 regions, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities and though we may be small we are mighty and we get a lot done. We asked you all, our listeners, what you wanted to know more about us and so we decided to give it a go. You’ll hear from each member of our team what their role is within our organization and what their favorite thing is about working at Women Lead Change and you’ll soon find out there’s one thing that sticks out. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Cari McCoy, the CEO of Clickstop, an ESOP and the parent company to several ecommerce businesses as well as a nationwide laundromat enterprise, Clean Laundry. Clickstop is known for rapid growth as well as its commitment to exceptional workplace culture, which has landed it numerous awards including first place finishes as CBJ’s "Coolest Places to Work," recognition on Inc. Magazine’s list of "Fastest Growing Companies" for 13 straight years, and multiple “Iowa Top Workplaces” awards. A Cedar Rapids native and Coe College graduate, Cari built her career in marketing, leaning into buyer psychology and content strategy before diving into sales and operations. She is committed to continuing Clickstop’s legacy by steering the company toward a bright future with a permanent hybrid on-site and remote workforce, trailblazing a new notion of great workplace culture through a commitment to employee ownership that’s fueled by rapid and sustainable growth for the business and for its people.On today's episode, Cari talks about her fast-paced leadership journey and what makes Clickstop a winner of multiple top workplaces awards.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Hi everybody! Mackenzy Caligiuri, Marketing Coordinator and Podcast Producer, poppin' in to say hi! The Women Lead Change offices are closed for a summer break. Instead of our regular programming, I'm here to give you some updates about Women Lead Change so you don't miss out on our upcoming events!Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Marsha Aldridge, the Vice President of Human Resources and Shared Services for IMT Insurance in West Des Moines. Marsha’s career focused on Human Resources with a passion for Leadership Development. She is a lifelong learner on a mission to share her leadership journey. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, camping, and hanging out with friends and family. You will most likely find her outdoors somewhere around Iowa!On today's episode, Marsha talks about how the role of family caregiver often falls on women, not only for young children but older relatives as well, and what organizations can do to be flexible to help avoid burnout of their employees. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Brandi Spurling who is the brains and head human behind Sage Culture Company, a leadership development and team building company located in Columbia, Missouri. She pairs a Master's degree in Leadership with a Bachelor's degree in Theatre, and draws on her experience in training over 300 workshops in order to challenge companies, leaders and teams to rethink the common workplace to create a culture that doesn’t sacrifice fun for results. Brandi is also the first-ever winner of the Women Lead Change Speak Tank!On today's episode, Brandi talks about getting out of your comfort zone and countering Imposter Syndrome. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Kourtney Perry, the owner of two Des Moines-based companies, Privacy, LLC and Ladie Lex Scented Candles. Privacy is an event coordination company that also provides business consulting and mentorship services. Ladie Lex offers therapeutic aromatherapy products such as candles, room sprays, lotions, and more. On today's episode, Kourtney talks about being your own boss and the importance of keeping an open dialogue with your children. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Sydney Rieckhoff, the 24-year-old CEO of Almost Famous Popcorn Company, a gourmet popcorn brand she co-founded at 14 years old. Almost Famous Popcorn is an Iowa-based company with a nationwide presence. Sydney is a graduate of Stanford University. She highlights her experiences as a young woman in business through a personal brand called The Popcorneur, with an aim of inspiring other women and young people to pursue their dreams.On today's episode, Sydney talks about the challenges she has faced due to her age and gender and her biggest piece of advice for young entrepreneurs. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Find resources here. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University. Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Joni Ekstrum, executive director of South Dakota Biotech who oversees its advocacy, communication, education, and membership services. SD Biotech represents more than 50 companies in industries spanning from agriculture to medical services and renewable fuels. Since assuming this role in 2012, Joni has grown its membership and increased gross profit while maintaining and expanding membership benefits. Her collaborative approach has provided connections for networking and led to career, new business, and partnering opportunities for both members and individuals.On today's episode, Joni discusses her journey, the importance of women lifting each other up and how sometimes the only person standing in your way is yourself. Learn more about biotech here. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Marcy Roundtree who is an accomplished public speaker and entrepreneur. She is the second African American woman to serve on the Cedar Rapids School Board. In 2017, she founded SOUL Coaching- Strategically, Optimistically, Unapologetically, Liberated to live your best life. On today's episode, Marcy discusses the power of self check-ins, her passion for serving others and the importance of allyship. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, the president of Dakota State University in Madison, SD. President Griffiths has spent her career in research, teaching, public service, corporate leadership, workforce and economic development, and higher education administration, with special focus on work in STEM fields. She has served in presidential appointments to the National Science Board, the U.S. President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. She is a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, part of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 2020.On today's episode, Dr. José-Marie Griffiths tells us about what led her to Dakota State University, the importance of allyship and mentorship, and that everyone has Imposter Syndrome.  Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Katy Susong, president and CEO of Iowa-based Cardinal Construction, a mid-sized commercial construction and development company. She is the 127-year-old company’s first female CEO. In her role, she develops and oversees company strategy. Katy is passionate about team member engagement and development, and providing opportunities for leadership. In 2021, she was recognized as Grow Cedar Valley’s Businessperson of the Year for her leadership in creating and strengthening regional collaboration and cooperation for economic and community development. On today's episode, Katy talks about her non-traditional journey to get to where she is today, the women she looks up to, and the importance of diverse conversations.Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Jen Loeb, a climber, photographer, guest speaker, author, and humanitarian. Jen started mountain climbing in 2010 and since that time has climbed mountains all over the world, including Everest on May 19, 2016, becoming the first woman from Iowa to climb it. She recently became one of 25 women in the United States to complete the 7 Summits which is when you climb the highest mountain on every continent. Jen has released a book called Shots From The Heart, that includes photographs and journal excerpts from her travels both near and far.On today's episode, Jen talks about how she got into climbing, her Iowa pride and what the entire world has in common. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show

Tiffany O'Donnell talks to Akwi Nji, an Iowa-based artist creating in words, performance, and visual art. She specializes in creative personal narrative storytelling across artistic mediums and through producing and curating community-focused arts programming. Her work and words have appeared on stage from California's Wine Country to New York's Fashion Week to Women Lead Change. She has worked with us on several projects over the years, including the recent piece, Years Ahead, featured in the WLC 15-year anniversary video. She is creator of The Remoir Project, a nationwide audio and visual storytelling arts initiative, and a champion of the artist and the arts through her role as producer of multimedia arts events in the Midwest. On today's episode, Akwi talks about how her childhood in Cameroon, Africa, helped make her the creative she is today and gives insight into her inspiration for the Years Ahead piece which you can view here. Follow Women Lead Change on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit wlcglobal.org for more information. Own It! from Women Lead Change is sponsored by Mount Mercy University.Support the show